William Blake

Cathy Leahy

William Blake was one of the most significant figures of the Romantic era. An artist and poet of outstanding originality, Blake's work gave powerful expression to his own visionary universe, as well as to those of authors such as Milton and Dante. Imagination was of paramount importance to Blake: he believed art must proceed from inner visions and not from the empirical observation of nature. Sumptuously illustrated, this beautiful volume presents the National Gallery of Victoria's Blake holdings, which include illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy, Milton's Paradise Lost and The Book of Job, among other works. It celebrates a creative genius who, through his watercolours, prints and illustrated books, created some of the most compelling and original works of his time. A special pictorial volume with a focus on the NGV's rich holdings of William Blake's work. Features scholarly text by the NGV's Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings, Cathy Leahy. Includes beautiful full reproductions and details of William Blake's remarkable work. Published to coincide with the exhibition to be held at NGV International, 4 April - 31 August 2014.

National Gallery of Victoria.Melbourne

Apocalypse, Death, Disaster; National Gallery of Victoria, 1 Aug 2012 - 28 Jan 2013

The Four Horsemen

Charles Zika

Jennifer Spinks

Europe experienced great turmoil between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. Bitter religious conflicts, war and other disasters such as plague and famine generated deep anxieties and were increasingly read as divine punishments or warnings that the Last Days were imminent. Artists gave expression to these fears in a range of extraordinary images that are analysed in depth in this publication. Illustrations of the Apocalypse, as well as images of skeletons personifying Death, and of physically deformed creatures, extreme natural phenomena and diabolical witches were all manifestations of the sense of impending social and religious crisis. Lavishly illustrated with works by artists including Albrecht Drer, Jacques de Gheyn II and Stefano della Bella, The Four Horsemen: Apocalypse, Death and Disaster provides a fascinating insight into the art, culture and turbulent times in later medieval, Renaissance and early modern Europe.

Cathy Leahy

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